22 replies to this topic

[dave1293gt]

Anyone into karting, not racing specifically just for fun. Been offered a twin engine prokart, just been rebuilt and seems like a fair price. The chap wants some gates automating so going to see about a deal.
Guess the welder will be busy making a trailer, and the toolbox will come home for tinkering.

[Beej123]

I love karting, never raced or anything, just a hobby at the local tracks. My first time in a pro kart scared the poo out of me! Good fun though! Go for it!

Does your local track allow other karts on? Ours are quite friendly but do check the karts over before you are allowed on.

[samsfern]

I'm thinking of starting it.

[Tupers]

I'm doing a 50min race tomorrow night with my Dad and brother at our local indoor track. I'm far from good but I've been knocking down my lap times every time I go. I definitely going to be nailed after the race though karting really does my calfs in.

[dave1293gt]

Have asked at one last week. They charge 35 upto 4 hrs or 45 all day in own kart. Then 5 per extra driver, they can even use there hire suits and helmets too. Its a decent track too (ancaster nr grantham)
We also have pfi international that you can goto but they require in date suits ect. but i think that is maybe all out racers mainly there testing.
Quite looking forward to getting in it. Even if its just for the summer.
From what i have read the Honda engines are quite tunable and cheap on spares too.

Edited by dave1293gt, 30 January 2012 - 09:14 PM.

[Thorpsta]

I use to do endurance racing down at Swaffham. It was great fun, the only down side was that you had to use their karts. 90% of them had understeer/oversteer, no tread etc >.<

[Tupers]

I like racing on a tracks own karts, I think it brings everyone back on a level playing field.

[dave1293gt]

Tupers 50 mins sounds like quite a challenge. Not sure i could manage that without a P stop.
Not even considering racing, cant afford it for a start, and i weigh to much to be competive. Lol

[Beej123]

I like racing on a tracks own karts, I think it brings everyone back on a level playing field.

Totally agree, no better feeling than winning when you know you had no advantage! (no excuses when you lose though)

[Beej123]

Tupers 50 mins sounds like quite a challenge. Not sure i could manage that without a P stop.
Not even considering racing, cant afford it for a start, and i weigh to much to be competive. Lol

I've done a couple of 120 minute endurance races (albeit in the karts own cars so speed are much lower ie. easier to keep going) and they are a real killer on the arms!

[dave1293gt]

Tupers 50 mins sounds like quite a challenge. Not sure i could manage that without a P stop.
Not even considering racing, cant afford it for a start, and i weigh to much to be competive. Lol

I've done a couple of 120 minute endurance races (albeit in the karts own cars so speed are much lower ie. easier to keep going) and they are a real killer on the arms!

Bloody hell, think the last time i went to ancaster i did 45 mins and i was shattered and that was a couple of years ago.
Hoping with my own kart i can maybe get the seat postioned better as i have quite long legs.

About 20 years ago 4 of us used to take a mates 100cc 2 stroke kart out around local carparks. Was a right animal. The metod of transport to where we went was my 850 with a roof rack.
The joys of youth and lack of repect for sensibly done things.

[Beej123]

My legs are always fine but our local track is really tight, great for close racing but indoor, slick tyres, it kills your arms to hold the wheel!

We would get nicked round here in the car park haha

[PAWL3Y]

If you did want to do racing on a budget I cant recommend this enough http://www.club100.co.uk/

Did half a season last year and a few enduros, great close racing as everyone has to use the same equipment and relatively cheap

[giner88]

love pro karts, helped run a gokart track in cyprus for just under 6 years. Although im way too big to compete even in normal fun karts, you cnt level the playing feild when you are 3 stone heavier than everyone else hahaha i also work at a funpark with karts in the summer, been trying to get them to upgrade to pro karts buuut they aint having any of it. whats it running on? two 160s? or two 200s?

[86mayfair]

Can't beat a decent kart on a decent outdoor circuit. I've been karting since I was 8 - 10 years - and it's great fun. My favourite circuit is definitely Buckmore Park, it's got a bit of everything: very fast, some slow bits, up and down hills, flat out blind bends over crests at 70mph, what's not to like! If you get the chance to drive a good 2 stroke do not turn it down, they are complete animals compared to 4 strokes.

Pro karts are still good fun though, the response just isn't as good as a 2 stroke but then 2 strokes are more expensive and can be trickier to run. They're a bit like minis though, as long as you keep on top of it and look after it, they don't need to be expensive or hard to run.

Karts are a really good place to learn about how set up affects handling etc, even if they don't have suspension. I also feel that I am a better road driver because of karting, not that I race everywhere but you learn first hand what can happen and how to deal with it in a relatively safe environment